Young Bexhill chess playerselected to play for England

Batuhan Kaya, a 12-year-old member of Bexhill Chess Club, has been selected to play for the England junior chess team.
By The Newsroom
Published 16th Mar 2016, 13:45 BST
Updated 7th Jun 2018, 20:24 BST

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Batuhan Kaya SUS-160316-114002001Batuhan Kaya SUS-160316-114002001
Batuhan Kaya SUS-160316-114002001

This is the culmination of a very successful twelve months for Bathuan, in which he became Sussex Under-11 champion, regularly represented the county (Sussex were national junior champions in 2015) and also won the Gordon Trophy at Bexhill Chess Club, playing against only adult members.

In that tournament, he won eight games, with three draws and no losses, probably the best result by a junior in the 120-year history of the Club.

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Batuhan has been playing chess since the age of eight. He gained his place in the England junior chess squad in December 2015, obtaining the necessary qualifying points at two London Junior Chess Championships tournaments in December, despite not being well at the time.

He will be playing at the National Junior Squad Championships in April. In August he will be going to Gibraltar for his first international tournament.”

Back in March 2014 Bexhill is made a move to firmly establish itself on the world stage with chess enthusiasts with the launch of the town’s first international chess tournament. Organiser Adam Raoof said at the time: “This is a great move for the town. Hastings was the first to establish a chess tournament in 1920. Now it is the turn of Bexhill.”

Bexhill Chess Club currently has over 25 regular members including several ladies and young juniors. All playing strengths are welcome. Coaching is available for beginners.

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Related topics:BexhillEnglandSussexHastingsGibraltar